Horizontal roll stand for slab mill

ABSTRACT

A horizontal roll stand particularly for use with edge-rolling stands in a continuous casting operation. Stand includes a housing which has upper and lower roll chocks and rolls. Upper chock is suspended by a balancing mechanism; lower chock supported by hydraulic means. To remove chocks and rolls, upper chock is lowered to abut lower chock, and both chocks lowered to rest on transversely movable sled. Lower chock has tapered pins permanently fixed to its upper face to fit within sockets in upper chock, whereby the chocks and rolls can be handled as a unit and installed or removed by remote control.

States atent I 1 3,583,194

[72] Inventor Francis K. Qualey 3,208,260 9/1965 Seiger et al. 72/239 Churchill Borough. Pa. 3,312,096 4/1967 Stubbs et al. 72/238 [21] Appl. No. 714,564 3,436,945 4/1969 Kamkowski 72/239 [22] Filed 1968 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham [45] Patented June 8, 1971 73 A U ed Sta steel C u Assistant Exammer-Robert M. Rogers I 1 Sslgnee n es orpora on Attorney-Walter P. Wood [54] HORIZONTAL ROLL STAND FOR SLAB MILL 2 Cl i 3 D Fl 8 rawmg gs ABSTRACT: A horizontal roll stand particularly for use with UuS- edge -oiling stands in a continuous casting operation Stand 72/245 includes a housing which has upper and lower roll chocks and [51] Int. Cl B2lb 31/08, 11 Upper chock is suspended by a balancing mechanism; 1321b 3 lower chock supported by hydraulic means. To remove [50] Field of Search 72/237, chocks and rolls, upper chock is lowered to abut lower chock, 245 and both chocks lowered to rest on transversely movable sled, Lower chock has tapered pins permanently fixed to its upper [56] References cued face to fit within sockets in upper chock, whereby the chocks UNITED STATES PATENTS and rolls can be handled as a unit and installed or removed by 2,140,929 12/1938 Talbot 72/245 remote control.

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PATENTEU JUN 8 I97! SHEET 1 OF 2 a i N Ml. m m i/fi 3 9 aia r INVENTOR. FRANCIS K. QUALEY Atrorney PAT ENTEU JUN 8l97l- 3583194 sum 2 OF 2 uvvavroa. FRANCIS K. OUALEY A f rorney HORIZONTAL ROLL STAND FOR SLAB MILL This invention relates to an improved horizontal roll stand for reducing the thickness of steel slabs or the like.

Although the invention is not thus limited, my roll stand is particularly useful for reducing steel slabs formed in a continuous-casting operation. When thus used, vertical or edgerolling stands commonly are placed between two horizontal stands of my invention. The horizontal and vertical stands cooperate to reduce the total cross section of a slab quite drastically in one closely coupled operation with the slab under tension and while it remains at a sufficiently high temperature for hot rolling. Reference can be made to .lenks et al. US. Pat. No. 3,358,358 for a showing of this method. In a rolling mill of this type it is frequently necessary to change rolls. One difficulty with previous horizontal roll stands has been that changing rolls takes too long, and necessitates stopping the whole operation with a resulting loss of production. Preferably I use the horizontal roll stand of my present invention in conjunction with edge-rolling stands constructed as shown and claimed in my copending application Ser. No 714,563, filed Mar. 20, 1968, to facilitate changing the edging rolls.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved horizontal roll stand, the rolls of which can be taken out and replaced by remote control during the brief intervals after a slab has been rolled before the next arrives without interrupting the normal tempo of operation.

A further object is to provide an improved horizontal roll stand in which the top and bottom work rolls and their chocks can be handled as a unit entirely by remote control when the rolls are changed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a roll stand constructed in accordance with my invention showing the rolls positioned for rolling;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale on line 11-11 of FIG. 1 omitting the bearing chock; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the rolls positioned for removal or installation.

The roll stand of my invention includes a pair of spacedapart opposed housings (only one shown), upper and lower bearing chocks 12 and 13 mounted in the housing for vertical movement, and upper and lower power-driven work rolls l4 and 15 journaled at one end in the respective chocks. Since the structure is similar at both sides of the stand, I show only one side. As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, when the stand is set up for rolling a slab S, the upper roll 14 and its chock 12 are suspended from a balancing mechanism 16, hereinafter described. The top of the upper chock 12 carries a rocker plate 17 which abuts a shim 18 at the top of the housing window. The floor of the housing carries an upstanding hydraulic cylinder 21 which contains a vertically movable plunger 22. The lower chock l3 rests on this plunger to support the lower roll 15. The hydraulic circuit for operating the plunger 22 preferably is arranged as shown in my earlier US. Pat. No. 3,280,610. This circuit enables the cylinders at both sides of the roll stand to apply equalized pressure through the lower roll to the slab, and it embodies a dump valve which releases the pressure automatically in the event of an overload and thus prevents damage to the parts. The outer face of the carries carries four horizontally slidable clamps 23 engageable with the ends of the chocks 12 and 13, and respective doubleacting fluid pressure cylinders 24 for moving the clamps back and forth. The floor of the housing carries transverse tracks 25 which extend the width of the roll stand and outwardly therefrom. A conventional sled 26 has wheels 27 which ride on these tracks.

As FIG. 2 best shows, the balancing mechanism 16 includes a hydraulic cylinder 30 mounted on brackets 31, which are fixed to the housing 10 and project outwardly and upwardly therefrom. The cylinder wall carries diametrically opposed trunnions 32 which are received in recesses in the brackets. The cylinder contains a reciprocable piston and piston rod 33, the lower end of which carries a clevis 34. A lifting beam 35 is pivoted to the clevis. The lifting beam is a frame rectangular in plan, the side members of which extend downwardly to provide ledges 36. The upper edges of the upper chock have shoulders 37 which rest on rocker plates 38 fixed to these ledges.

In accordance with my invention, the lower chock 13 carries a pair of tapered pins 39 upstanding from its upper face and permanently fixed thereto. The upper chock has a pair of sockets 40 in its lower face adapted to receive the pins 39 when the two chocks are brought into face-to-face engagement. As long as the roll stand is set up for rolling, the pins are spaced below the sockets.

in operation, when I wish to change the rolls l4 and 15, l operate cylinders 24 to retract clamps 23 and I gradually relieve the pressure in cylinder 30. The lifting beam 35, upper chock l2 and upper roll 14 descend slowly until the upper chock abuts the lower chock l3. Pins 39 enter sockets 40. The lifting beam 35 continues to descend to a position in which the rocker plates 38 are clear of the shoulders 37 on the upper chock. Next I operate the cylinder 21 to lower the plunger 22 and both chocks and rolls, which now rest on the plunger. At the same time 1 perform the same sequence of steps at the opposed housing (not shown). The sled 26 receives the chocks and rolls with the ledges 36 still clearing the shoulders 37 and the plunger 22 clearing the lower chock 13, as FIG. 3 shows. Next I operate the sled 26 to pull the chocks and rolls from the housing from the operators side of the roll stand. The drive mechanism on the other side either can be detached, or the drive mechanism can be removed with the rolls, for example as shown and claimed in Bode application Ser. No 714,636, filed Mar. 20, 1968. I perform these operations in reverse order to install rolls in the stand.

The engagement of pins 39 in sockets 40 enables the two rolls and their four chocks to be handled as a unit. Since the pins are permanently fixed to the lower chock 13, there is no need for a workman to go near the roll stand to install or remove any connectors. The various cylinders of course have the usual connections for admitting and discharging fluid under pressure. I control all these cylinders remotely from the operator's usual station. When 1 use the roll stand for a slab formed in a continuous-casting operation, I can remove and replace a set of rolls in the brief interval after a ladle is emptied before the next arrives (about 15 to 20 minutes) and all by remote control.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a horizontal roll stand which includes:

a housing;

upper and lower chocks mounted for vertical movement in said housing;

upper and lower work rolls journaled at one end in the respective chocks;

a balancing mechanism suspending said upper chock and roll from the top of said housing;

hydraulic means in the bottom of said housing supporting said lower chock and roll with the lower chock spaced below the upper chock; and

a sled supported in the bottom of said housing beneath said lower chock for movement transversely of the stand; said balancing mechanism being adapted to lower said upper chock to a position resting on said lower chock;

said hydraulic means supporting said lower chock in a position over said sled and being adapted to lower said upper and lower chocks to a position resting on said sled; the improvement comprising: a plurality of tapered pins upstanding from the upper face of said lower chock and being permanently fixed thereto;

said upper chock having sockets to receive said pins when the upper chock rests on the lower chock, whereby the chocks and rolls can be handled as a unit by remote control for removal and installation.

ried by said piston rod and having inwardly projecting ledges along its sides, said upper chock having shoulders supported on said ledges but clearing the ledges when said chocks are lowered to rest on said sled.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 583 194 Dated June 8 1971 Invent0r( ncis K. Qualey It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 61, after "of the" insert housing line 62, cancel "carries'h Signed and sealed this 7th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM 301059 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U 5 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 96! CJ55'33 

1. In a horizontal roll stand which includes: a housing; upper and lower chocks mounted for vertical movement in said housing; upper and lower work rolls journaled at one end in the respective chocks; a balancing mechanism suspending said upper chock and roll from the top of said housing; hydraulic means in the bottom of said housing supporting said lower chock and roll with the lower chock spaced below the upper chock; and a sled supported in the bottom of said housing beneath said lower chock for movement transversely of the stand; said balancing mechanism being adapted to lower said upper chock to a position resting on said lower chock; said hydraulic means supporting said lower chock in a position over said sled and being adapted to lower said upper and lower chocks to a position resting on said sled; the improvement comprising: a plurality of tapered pins upstanding from the upper face of said lower chock and being permanently fixed thereto; said upper chock having sockets to receive said pins when the upper chock rests on the lower chock, whereby the chocks and rolls can be handled as a unit by remote control for removal and installation.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said balancing mechanism includes brackets fixed to said housing, a hydraulic cylinder carried by said brackets, a vertically reciprocable piston and piston rod in said cylinder, and a lifting beam carried by said piston rod and having inwardly projecting ledges along its sides, said upper chock having shoulders supported on said ledges but clearing the ledges when said chocks are lowered to rest on said sled. 